THE LEADER'S REPORT: WEEK OF JULY 26, 2010

This week, we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of one of my proudest achievements—the signing into law of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which has made a real difference in the lives of millions of Americans. I was the lead House sponsor of the ADA which passed with wide, bipartisan support and was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990.

This week also marked two other anniversaries of bills that improved the lives of millions of Americans—the 45th anniversary of Medicare and the 75th anniversary of Social Security. It’s hard to imagine, but before these programs existed, many elderly Americans lived in abject poverty despite leading productive lives. These two bills changed that and strengthened our country in the process.

House Democrats continued to advance our “Make it in America” initiative this week, passing four more bills focused on American manufacturing and creating jobs. One of the major bills we passed last week, the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act, passed the Senate this week and is on its way to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law. That bill helps American companies get the affordable materials they need to manufacture goods here in the United States.

Members are now on their way home to their Districts, where they will spend the next several weeks talking with constituents about how Democrats are working to strengthen our manufacturing industry to create jobs for the middle class and plan for long-term economic growth, and discussing other issues important to their districts. I think I speak for all our representatives when I say that we look forward to hearing from you. The House will return for legislative business on September 13th.

Sincerely yours,
STENY H. HOYER

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